Japanese developer Clap Hanz has been making colorful cartoon golf games for PlayStation consoles since 1999. Hot Shots Golf 2. The studio’s first non-PlayStation game, Apple Arcade Clap Hanz Golf, is more the same, only now I only need a few touches of my iPad screen.
Hot Shots Golf, Everybody’s Golf, Minna No Golf– Anyway, the Clap Hanz golf brand has a special flavor that appeals to me a lot. I think it’s the combination of physics and somewhat realistic golf locations with weird, anime-style golfers, an easy approach to a sport that is taken very seriously. The series respects the bay, while acknowledging that everything is naughty and can use more confetti and special effects.
Clap Hanz Golf, released Friday and free for Apple Arcade subscribers, is all that, plus a bag of chips (golf joke alert). In the tour mode of the game, players participate in rounds with three holes, which is a nice fast game that works well on mobile devices. Instead of choosing a golfer to play the entire set, each hole uses a different golfer from the team of collectible anime athletes. For example, in the set I play in the video below, I start with Fred Lopes Jr., then move on to the young and exuberant Taiyo Hoshino, then finish the third with Nathan Neill, somewhat nerdy.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and rises independently through the game. During the campaign I fought with rivals and bosses, adding them to my list after their defeat. It’s a golf game with collectible characters, just since it’s on the Apple Arcade, there are no microtransactions to worry about.
Players looking for a more traditional set of nine holes can play the game’s Score Attack mode, which causes them to select a single character and make their way through halfway. A new suit might be a bit much for a bath break, but luckily the game allows you to take a break and take your place. And for those unfamiliar with golf, unless it involves destroying other people’s self-esteem, there’s a local multiplayer mode.
G / O Media may receive a commission
I’ve been in love with Clap Hanz’s golf games for a decade and a half, so if you want an unbiased opinion about the appropriate title Clap Hanz Golf, you won’t find one here. For the first time since 2012 Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational for Vita, I have Clap Hanz in my pocket and it feels damn good.
.